[MARK TINNELLY]

i just put a new engine in my monte, the car has 170,000 on it so the clock reads 70,000, what are the laws and what do I have to do to put a new speedo and odometer i n it, i live in new york,
by the way, I would be lost with out this site, thank you all very much!!!!

[S10Fan]

I live in Virginia. Like most states, Virginia has laws against "tampering" with the odometer, or misrepresenting the actual mileage. The law does allow a vehicle owner to state the mileage as "unknown". On several of my project vehicles over the years I have re-set the odometer to 000000 after they were completed. I remember one trip to the local DMV to title a 41 Chevrolet. I stated the mileage as unknown, the clerk warned me that doing so would hurt the value of my car. I told her that 3 people asked me to sell it on the way there and none of them wanted to know the "mileage".

Re-setting the odometer is a simple task, no I won't tell you how. There's probably a law against spreading that information. Sorry.

[poncho62]

I wouldn't worry about it, unless you are trying to sell the car.....and even if you were, you could state on the bill of sale that the odometer was reset to zero.

[cboy]

Originally Posted by S10Fan

Re-setting the odometer is a simple task, no I won't tell you how.

I Will.

When I built my roadster I took the speedo out of the old f-150, so it was basically the same as buying an after market unit...which would be set at zero anyhow. So nothing illegal involved. Also, I had my unit totally removed and on the workbench when I reset the numbers. And I can't see any other way of doing it.

I don't know about ALL speedos, but the Ford unit has the six number wheels mounted on a small metal shaft which is, in turn, secured at each end in the metal framework of the speedo unit. The number wheels are attached to plastic cogs which are prevented from moving in either direction unless the cog to it's right moves first. There might be an easier way to do it but the only way I could figure out how to rotate the numbers was to pop the shaft (which carries the number wheels and cogs) out of the metal framework. The numbers then rotate freely. Be careful, however, to keep all the wheels and cogs on the drive shaft. Just drive the shaft out of the bracket at one end, tilt it outward, and then remove the other end of the shaft from the bracket. It's also a bit of a trick to keep the numbers lined up at zero when you pop the shaft back into the bracket but with a little fussing, you can get it. I've got an old speedo unit out in the shop I can dig out if you want to see some pictures...but I think it will be pretty self explanatory once you see the guts of your unit.

[matt167]

in ny, 10 years or older is exempt so the odo reading is not watched on the titles anymore, there is a big EXEMPT sign across the odo reading. roll it back, if they ask any questions, yours went bad and you bought 1 from the wrecking yard witch happened to have lower miles on it.

[NXS]

I have done two myself, both Fords. one was an 86 5.0 and the other was a 91 T-bird. The 'stang unit was easy, the T-bird unit took some finess.
If you do decide to do so don't lie about it, you've done nothing wrong unless you lie about the readings.

[Deuce]

I suggest your find a speedometer that fits your Monte Carlo with less miles........so it will be in better shape.......and then roll the mileage to Zero on it.

That way the Monte Carlo will not be down or disabled and IF you mess up....the rollback.....you are still golden.....

[Jzarczyn]

Another method:
Next time you drain the transmission, take note of the cable at the back of the transmission.
This is the speedometer cable. You can disconnect it and find some method of turning it very quickly (maybe a Dremmell or other rotary tool left running for a few days, I don't know) until you get to 99999.

[poncho62]

And, 3 Dremels later, if you fall asleep and it goes over, you can start all over.........

Why not just leave it....everyone knows its a car with miles on it....you know it has 70,000 on it, just do the math.

[Parisienne66]

Originally Posted by poncho62

And, 3 Dremels later, if you fall asleep and it goes over, you can start all over.........

Why not just leave it....everyone knows its a car with miles on it....you know it has 70,000 on it, just do the math.

I would tend to agree with that philosophy.

[MI2600]

I've traded out speedometers and dashes so much even I'm not sure of the true mileage on my cars.

I believe it is a crime just if you "misrepresent" the mileage displayed.